10 Living Things That Are Surprisingly Related

by Kate Wan

Due to a worldwide increase in scientific literacy, most people are familiar with what a species is. They know that two different animals or plants are different species. However, breeding has produced subspecies which can confuse the issue somewhat. The ordinary potato and the sweet potato are completely unrelated, yet the incredibly varied dachshund, the Great Dane, and the old English sheepdog are all, astoundingly, the same species. Here are ten species whose members are just as unexpectedly varied.

Brassica oleracea is a species of leafy vegetable which we know in many different forms. It has been bred into a number of different subspecies, each with its own morphology and taste. Imagine sitting down to a meal of steamed broccoli, baked cauliflower, fried kale and cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. Every single one of these vegetables, despite looking and tasting different, is Brassica oleracea. Broccoli has been bred to accentuate the inner part whilst cabbage has been bred for its leaves. It does not take a stretch of the imagination to see that Brussels sprouts are, for the most part, miniaturized cabbages, and cauliflowers are largely paler broccolis. Kale are cabbages which have been bred to grow their leaves outwards instead of into a head. Nevertheless, all these vegetables are easily distinguished by taste, and their hugely different shapes and colors makes it surprising that they are all the exact same species.

In Europe, turnip is a common vegetable to see on one’s dinner plate, whilst in Asia boo chou and its varieties are enjoyed. Unexpectedly, these are different parts of the same plant. In the West, Brassica raps was bred to emphasize its large root, which is eaten as a turnip. In the East, the very same species was bred for its leaves, and the root stayed small and largely unsuitable for eating. Essentially, each region ate a different one of the two parts of the plant. Further breeds and subspecies of Brassica raps include broccoletti, Japanese mustard, and, of course, the many variations of boo chou: bak choi, chou sum, Napa cabbage, wombok, pechay, Pekinesis cabbage, and many others. Although all of these foods look and taste different, they all come from the same species of plant.

Sweet peppers, or capsicums, come in many varieties. They can be red, green, yellow, orange, white, or even purple. Each color has a subtly different taste. Many of these are actually the same plant in a different stage of ripeness. The plant begins at green before turning yellow and finally red. White capsicums are often paler varieties, and purple capsicums have been bred for their color, but are still the same species, Capsicum annuum. More interestingly, a number of hot, spicy chili peppers are also the same species as these sweet, unspicy vegetables. Although all these foods are similar, it is nevertheless surprising that they are all one species. The German and Hebrew words for capsicum are both paprika, which in English we use to describe a spice used in cooking. The word is not a coincidence; paprika is merely dried and ground Capsicum annuum, despite having quite a different taste. The many varieties of sweet colorful foods, spicy hot chilies, and even a harmless cooking spice are all of the same species.

Zucchinis are a type of squash. They have soft white flesh, and produce a mild bitter yet buttery taste when cooked. Pumpkins, on the other hand, range in color from orange to yellow to green or even white, have much denser flesh, larger, harder seeds, and taste completely different to zucchini. There are several species of pumpkin that can be eaten, but one of the most common ones is Cucurbita pepo. However, zucchini is also Cucurbita pepo. In fact, so are a number of vastly different vegetables. The bizarrely striped delicate squash, the appropriately named pattypan squash, the gigantic spaghetti squash, and a host of others are all in the same species. As a single species, these can all be interbred, although they generally are not as the results do not taste as flavorsome as any of the pure breeds. Cucurbita pepo has been bred so extensively that it has produced this impressive range of sizes, shapes, colors, and flavors.

Tea drinkers around the world often cultivate their own particular tastes. Apart from fruit and herb teas, which are generally made from the fruits of various plants, there are a large number of teas which are made from more traditional leaves. Black tea, green tea, oolong tea, white tea, and yellow tea all have their own distinctive aromas and tastes. They are all, however, made from leaves of the same plant. Camellia sinensis leaves are dried and heated to turn them from lush green living photosynthetic factories into the tiny curled fragments we enjoy with warm water. The different tastes come from the way they are prepared. The amount of time they are processed for causes the leaves to oxidize to different degrees, producing a large range of tastes and health benefits. Green and white teas are oxidized the least, followed by oolong teas, and finally black teas, which are oxidized the most.

Mushrooms are a wonderful food. From the supermarket, one can often buy tiny round, white button mushrooms, or large, flat, brown portobello mushrooms. Generally more expensive are the tiny French champignon mushroom, the Swiss brown mushroom, the Roman brown mushroom, and the Italian mushroom. These are all Agaricus bisporus, the same species as each other, and the most widely consumed mushroom on earth. Rather than being different subspecies, most of these mushrooms are merely different ages. The fungus starts as small, pale buds and gradually grows larger, broader, flatter, and turns brown. Which name they are given depends on when they are harvested. Although different strains do exist, they are not used or even observed in the majority of the world, as the natural changes in the mushroom make them different enough to consumers.

There are many kinds of wolf on earth. These include the gray wolf, the Eurasian wolf, the Arabian wolf, and even the red wolf. These are not distinct species, but rather subspecies of Canis lupus. Dingos developed from wolves on their own terms, but another type of animal entirely was purposefully bred by humans: the domestic dog. Every single breed of dog, no matter how small, large, or differently shaped, is the same species as the wolf. They were domesticated from wild wolves several thousand years ago by ancient humans, and were subsequently bred into many different forms depending on humans’ needs. There are breeds designed to fight bulls, to ferret out animals in burrows, to attack all but their recognized owner, to hunt rabbits, to catch fish, and many other functions. Some of these have been bred so extensively that they suffer severe problems from inbreeding, and debilitating genetic disorders are unfortunately common in dogs. No other mammal has been bred into anything even approaching the sheer variety of forms that the domestic dog shows. And yet the minuscule chihuahua and the gigantic wolfhound are both one and the same: Canis lupus.

Bears are the largest predators on land. They are highly adaptable omnivores who strike fear into the hearts of those who encounter them in the wild, and with good reason. The Kodiak bear is one of the largest bears on earth, but perhaps more famous is the ferocious grizzly bear. Other bears include the brown bear, the American black bear, and the rare Tibetan blue bear. All of these bears are Ursus arctos. Ursus arctos itself is an interesting name, as it is simply made up of the Latin and then the Greek word for bear. The word ‘arctic’ actually comes from ‘arctos,’ meaning an area associated with bears, specifically, the far Northern bear constellation, Ursa Major. The many subspecies of Ursus arctos vary in mass by hundreds of kilograms, and their fur can be long, shaggy, short, brown, black, tan, or even bluish. There are so many different forms of Ursus arctos that scientists currently do not know exactly how many subspecies there are at all.

Feral horses, also called mustangs or brumbies, are often seen as a completely different animal to domestic horses, but the disparity is purely behavioral. They are the same species, Equus ferus, and are actually descended from domestic horses. The only true wild horse left today is the Mongolian wild horse, or Przewalski’s horse, which is merely a different subspecies. The domestic horse itself, like the domestic dog, has been further bred into a large number of forms according to the wants of humans. Some, like draft horses, are large, stocky, and have sizable tufts of hair around their hooves. They have been bred as workhorses, and are prized for their incredible strength and stamina. Others, like the miniature horse, have been bred for their small size and good temperament. Miniature horses are finding a place in the assistance animal niche, and are used in a similar way to guide dogs. They live longer than dogs, and even most other horse breeds, and are especially useful to the many people who are allergic to dog hair.

The black panther is distinct from the others on this list because it is the same species as not one but several types of cat. A panther is said to be a fierce wild cat of huge size, but actually, panthers are not a species of cat at all. They are large cats who merely possess a gene for melanism, or black fur. Leopards (Panthera pardus), jaguars (Panthera onca), and possibly cougars (Puma concolor), can all be born with black fur and are subsequently called panthers. A jaguar with normal coloration, for example, can give birth to two cubs of which one has black fur and one has the standard jaguar pattern. Panthers of leopards and jaguars still have spots, but due to the darkness of their fur, it difficult but not often impossible to see them. There have been reports of panther tigers, but so far, the only confirmed case of a black tiger has been a strange cub born in an Indian zoo. It was born white, another uncommon but simple genetically-caused coloration for tigers, but gradually changed to black over a period of some months.

10 Disadvantages to Synesthesia

by M. Synesthi & Nic Swaner

Synesthesia is generally thought of as a perceptual condition that enhances the experiences of day to day life. For the most part this is true, and many, if not all synesthetes, wouldn’t part with their synthetic experiences to begin with. That does not mean that there aren’t downsides to the condition. Synesthesia is unusual in that it manifests the individual and will oftentimes show no effect on the outside world, unlike other psychological conditions where the effects are obvious to others around the individual. This can result in discouraging and patronizing reactions to the person affected. When experiencing strong enough stimulation, synesthesia can also become troublesome and even dangerous. As the list will come to show, synesthesia is not all it is rumored to be. This article was co-written by M. Synesthi and Nic Swaner and is largely based on experience on M. Synesthi’s part (items 10-6, 4-1), as well as some experience from Nic Swaner (items 7, 2-1), and research done on account of both of the authors (item 5).

To a synesthete who can never recall a life without their synesthesia, descriptions of colored voices or angry numbers are all too natural. To non-synesthetes, however, this can seem extremely strange or overwhelming. Due to this, when someone first learns that they have synesthesia and are eager to share their perceptions with others they can be met with confusion and even disbelief from the people closest to them.

Synesthetes who do not have the support of their friends and family can be left feeling alienated or even a little bit crazy, assuming that their perceptions of the world are invalid. Additionally, synesthetes who were ridiculed as a child for their ‘craziness’ may feel nervous and unwilling to explain themselves, losing critical chances to enrich the world around them.

In addition to having to explain their synesthesia to friends and family a synesthete might also experience ridicule at the hands of their peers. Children without synesthesia will often find a synesthete’s descriptions of their experiences to be strange or threatening and react through shunning or criticism. This often occurs early in a synesthete’s childhood when they comment upon their synthetic experiences in the belief that everyone shares them, and are then left startled and confused to learn that they are the only one with such experiences.

Just like a non-synesthete who naturally prefers one color over the rest, so does a synesthete with some of their experiences. To those with grapheme synesthesia certain letters or numbers may be “pretty” or “soothing” while others are “ugly.” To a person with OLP (Ordinal Linguistic Personification) synesthesia, this extends to the personality of the letters. ‘A’ might be friendly, for example, while ‘D’ is sullen and rude. To a synesthete, this is simply how the letters are, and they make their preferences accordingly.

While this sort of preference is often benign, it at times becomes obvious or challenging. When meeting new people, a person with sound-color synesthesia may be naturally drawn to someone with a pretty voice, while avoiding those whose voices are “sharp” or “glaring.” This isn’t a judgment on the people surrounding them, but it can limit who they interact with and make social situations or conversations uncomfortable.

A synesthete will eventually encounter stereotypes assigned to them when surrounded by people who are aware of the condition. They might be asked what their synesthesia is by a curious yet seemingly investigative acquaintance, with the implication being that they have one type, when many have numerous forms of synesthesia. Some stereotypes that continue to be perpetuated by the internet and the media are that synesthetes are inherently creative and artistic due to their synthetic gifts; that synesthetes are left-handed; and that they are bad at math. Richard Cytowic, a leading researcher on synesthesia has disproven the first of these myths, citing that the estimated percentage of synesthetes in the US population is proportional to the percentage of synesthetes who are professional artists. There is also no evidence that synesthetes are predominantly left-handed. The last stereotype contains some truth in it, but has been applied from one form of synesthesia to all. It is discussed below.

One common stereotype (as mentioned in the last section) is that synesthetes are bad at math. While synesthetes range in mathematical ability just as non-synesthetes do, individuals with certain types of synesthesia may have to view the mathematical processes a little differently. For an individual with OLP synesthesia, for instance, math can be at times uncomfortable. The act of adding a ‘mean’ number to a ‘nice’ number may cause a level of anxiety, because the synesthete does not want to expose the ‘nice’ number to the meanness of the other number in the problem.

Another common situation regarding synesthesia and math is the plight of a person with grapheme synesthesia, who views each number as having its own color. This person can know, quite logically, that 2 + 3 = 5. However, to them, this could look like pink + light blue = red. If they have any experience with color theory, they realize that red is a primary color, and therefore cannot be created out of two secondary colors. In order to solve this addition problem, the synesthete must either disregard their colors temporarily, or struggle to handle the situation they find themselves in.

In mirror-touch synesthesia, a person observing someone else being touched will feel the sensation of being touched in the same area. In the case of vision-touch synesthesia, a visual stimulus is perceived as a particular touch which can occur and be felt on different parts on the body. Both are normally not a problem for the synesthete, but upon approaching large, tall, deep or wide objects (such as a large animal or a lake), those that have the latter form of synesthesia may react badly due to how they feel the object. Most vision-touch synesthetes report a falling sensation and some have even described a reaction akin to the fight or flight response. The same responses have also been reported with minuscule objects. This may be because vision-touch synesthetes can sense or feel the scale of an object.

Synesthetes, just like non-synesthetes, have different levels of musical ability. However, for people with sound-color synesthesia, their musical abilities may be counteracted by their synthetic experiences. A person with sound-color synesthesia (sometimes called colored hearing) will ‘see’ a sound as the presence of a color whenever they hear the sound. While this experience can be pleasant at times, it may make it difficult for the musician to see their music, and they may find themselves relying on their memory more then their non-synesthetic peers.

Additionally, performing in a group ensemble may be difficult at times. Some synesthetes with colored hearing may hear everyone’s voice as having a unique color. If this individual is part of a choir, they could find themselves overwhelmed by their perceptions when everyone is singing together, experiencing symptoms of sensory overload such as headaches or nausea.

To a synesthete with sound-color synesthesia, every sound has its own color, and often louder sounds will dominate the visual field. An individual with sound-color synesthesia will usually be unaffected by the extra colors, as their whole life has been spent in this manner. However, in situations with extreme or unexpected noise they may find themselves overwhelmed.

Fire drills are an excellent example. To non-synesthetes, the noise of the fire alarm is loud and annoying, but does not change anything about his or her visual field. To a synesthete with sound-color synesthesia, this loud, unending sound obscures part, if not all, of their vision. This can be especially difficult when trying to exit the building during the drill, as the synesthete may bump objects or trip on objects on the floor.

Synesthesia doesn’t necessarily stick around for everyone; many who have it experience a gradual fade effect where their synthetic experiences become weaker in intensity over time. A melody that appeared vividly as bright yellow years ago now would be hardly experienced at all later on.

Occasionally, people who have had synesthesia throughout their childhood may find that it dramatically changes during their teenage years. The reason for this is not entirely understood, but it has been reported that several synesthetes find that their synesthesia becomes “stronger” or “vivider.” This can be confusing for the synesthete, who typically does not anticipate such change.

As anyone who has experienced a high fever before knows, an elevated body temperature may cause an altered perception of reality. Synesthetes who attempt to perform daily activities while feverish may find that their synesthesia is stronger or weaker, or perhaps just looks “off.” This goes back to normal after the body temperature returns to normal. Ear infections often present additional challenges with sound-color synesthesia. A bad ear infection makes it more difficult to hear what is happening in the world, causing the affected person to feel somewhat deafened. A synesthete with sound-color synesthesia and an ear infection will not only lose their hearing temporarily, but will also have their colors altered for the duration of the infection.

As mentioned before, some synesthetes find that their synesthesia gradually weakens with time. It is very uncommon to lose your synesthesia overnight. However, a synesthete suffering from depression may find that their synesthesia temporarily leaves. The reason for this is not known, but to the synesthete, this is another traumatic life event to add to the pre-existing depression, often prolonging or enhancing the depression and extending the period without the synesthesia.

When synesthesia is reported by individuals who don’t normally experience it or inherit it genetically, this can be an indicator of brain damage, the onset or aftereffects of a stroke or seizure, and, if applicable, as a result of the brain healing after the removal of tissue, such as a brain tumor. Since synesthesia is a condition that exists within the brain, it is understandable that a traumatic brain injury such as a concussion may temporarily affect a synesthete in that way as well. A concussed synesthete may find themselves more sensitive to sounds, or have problems “blocking out” excessive colors in their reading or writing activities. As with general confusion following a concussion in a non-synesthete, these symptoms will typically lessen over time.

Top 10 Weirdest Fast Food Items Around the World

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Top Ten Talk Shows

Top Ten Talk Shows

We figure that we have talked a lot of about the movies and anime but Talk Shows are one area which we left out. So, we decided to bring you a list of the ten greatest talk shows of all time from all around the world. This particular list gives you a little information on the best talk shows on television and of course as always, the ranking is purely based on opnion. You guys can let us know about your favorite talk shows in the comments. Enjoy the read!

10. LIVE! WITH KELLY

This particular talk show was formerly known as The Morning Show, Live! Regis and Kathie Lee, Live! with Regis and Kelly and finally they settled on Live! with Kelly. This is an American morning talk show and it is hosted by Kelly Ripa. It started airing in the year 1983 in New York City and it went 1988 worldwide. The show now airs in high definition and it has been the case since the year 2008. So far the show has aired around 29 seasons comprising of 7,408 episodes each running for sixty minutes. Wow, that is a lot of airtime. The show was created by WABC-TV and it takes the tenth spot on our list.

9. DR. PHIL

I am pretty sure you guys are familiar with Dr. Phil as a person. The show is hosted by Phil McGraw and it debuted on the 16th September of the year 2002. He is a clinical psychologist so he offers life strategies on the show. The show is syndicated throughout the United States and apparently is quite popular with the audiences. The tenth seasons of Dr. Phil premiered in September 2011. So far, they have aired around ten seasons with 1,671 episodes each running for around 45 to 48 minutes. Interestingly, the show is created by Oprah Winfrey herself and it originates from the United States of America.

8. FRIDAY NIGHT WITH JONATHAN ROSS

This is the first British talk show on this list. It is a comedy show and needless to say, it is presented by Jonathan Ross. Originally, the show was broadcasted on BBC One in November of 2001. He interviews around three different guests per episode. The final series began in January of 2010 and it ended in July of 2010. The most frequent guests on the show were Ricky Gervais and Jack Dee, Jeremy Clarkson and Eddie Izzard. The show comprises of 18 series with a total of 274 episodes each running for an approximate of sixty five minutes. The show is written by Jonathan Ross, Shaun Pye, Fraser Steele, Jim Pullin and Jez Stevenson.

7. LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN

This is a late night talk show based in United States. It is hosted by Conan O’Brien and so far it has aired around 2,725 episodes on NBC between the years 1993 and 2009. It is primarily a comedy talk show consisting of celebrity interviews, musical and comedic performances and celebrity interviews. The show is created by Conan O’Brien and is narrated by Joel Godard. It airs from the NBC Studios in New York, New York and each episode runs for around 42 to 43 minutes.

6. THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO

This too is an American late-night show and is hosted by Jay Leno. It originally aired from May of 1992 to May of 2009 and then the production resumed in the year 2010. So far, a total of nineteen seasons have aired comprising of 4,306 episodes. It is recorded in the NBC Studios in Burbank California and each episode runs for over 50 minutes. The show is divided into six different segments, so to speak and Jay Leno does an awesome job pulling those segments off. The show is about current topics, different headlines, a lot of comedy and interviews as well.

5. LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON

This happens to be one of my favorite talk shows ever. This particular talk show has a won a Peabody Award and it is hosted by Scottish American comedian by the name of Craig Ferguson. He happens to be the third regular host of this show and it follows Late Show with David Letterman on CBS. Craig Ferguson’s contract has extended for another two years till through 2014. The show is also all set move to a bigger studio, that is apparently right next door. So far, around 1,565 episodes have aired and the show has been created by David Letterman himself. The show originally started in the year 2005.

4. THE VIEW

This is an American morning talk show that is broadcasted on ABC. The View was created by Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie and they serve as the show’s executive producers as well. As of the year 2007, Whoopi Goldberg moderates discussions. Rest of the panel consists of Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters (sometimes). The show originally premiered in the year 1997 and since then it has seen success on day time television. So far, around 15 seasons have aired and as of 1st June 2012, 3,399 episodes were aired. The show originally aired on ABC.

3. THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN

I started watching talk shows with this particular late-night comedy by David Letterman. The show airs on CBS and it debuted on the 30th August of year 1993. It is produced by Worldwide Pants Incorporated. In the year 2002, the show was ranked number seven on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. Before this, Letterman was the host of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC from the year 1982 to 1993. It has aired a total of nineteen seasons that comprise of 3,631 episodes and each episode runs for around 62 minutes. The show is followed by Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

2. THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW

I loved this show the moment I saw it for the first time. Ellen does a fantastic job of hosting this show and making it as funny as possible. The show debuted in September of 2003 and it is produced by Telepictures. The show has won around 32 Daytime Emmy Awards. If you are anxious to know, the next season of this show will begin on the 10th September of 2012. The show is created by Ellen DeGeneres and it has aired a total of nine seasons. A total of 1,508 episodes as of 31st May 2012 have been aired and each runs for approximately 38 minutes.

1. THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW

I am sure you guys figured that this is the show that will take the first spot. Oprah has seen much success with this talk show and nationally it has run 25 seasons, debuting in 1986. This happens to be the highest ranked TV show in the entire world and for good reason and it also happens to be one of the longest-running daytime talk shows. The Oprah Winfrey Show has received 47 Daytime Emmy Awards so far and after the year 2000, Oprah stopped submitting it for consideration. A total of 4,561 episodes have aired each running for an approximate of 45 minutes.

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10 More Amazing Facts About Our Bodies

by Melissa Wold

Our bodies are amazing things. Although this site has listed some fascinating facts about our bodies before, one list just doesn’t cover it all. I’m not sure a hundred lists would do it. So, here are another 10 interesting facts about your body. Enjoy!

Fact: Humans are the only mammal that can’t swallow and breathe at the same time.

Every other mammal, and many other non-mammalian animals, can breathe while they eat. In fact, human infants are also able to do so, which lets them breathe while they nurse. We lose this ability around the age of 9 months, when our voice box drops as part of our development. As children and adults, the human voice box lays unusually low in the neck compared to other animals. This allows sound to resonate much more, which is why we are able to produce the wide range of sounds that makes up our speech.

Fact: You have a second brain in your gut.

Well, sort of. You have around 100 million neurons, more than are in your spinal cord, that line your gut from your esophagus to your anus. This is known to scientists as the enteric nervous system. This second brain is incapable of conscious thought and is largely responsible for digestion, but it does more than that. If you’ve ever felt “butterflies” in your stomach or felt as if you’ve been punched in the gut when receiving bad news, that was caused by your enteric nervous system. This also plays a roll in your overall mood, why certain foods can alter your mood and why bad situations or feelings often cause you to lose your appetite.

Fact: Loneliness is physically painful.

Ok, you probably knew that. But do you know why? Researchers at the University of California asked volunteers to play a computer game that simulated a simple game of catch with two other players. What they didn’t know was that the other “players” were just the computer and it was designed to leave them out after a few minutes of play, resulting in feelings of loneliness and rejection. They found that the feeling of loneliness is actually processed in the same part of your brain as physical pain, called the anterior cingulate cortex. This explains the human desire to fit in, to seek out companionship and helps to understand the power of peer pressure. Scientists are also hoping to use this information to help explain and treat some forms of depression.

Fact: You salivate more before you vomit.

This is an automatic bodily reflex designed to protect your throat, mouth and teeth. Stomach acid is, of course, highly acidic and if it weren’t for the lining in your stomach it would eat a hole right through it. Unfortunately, you don’t have that same lining in your throat or mouth. Salivating before vomiting helps to dilute and rinse away the acid so it won’t harm the rest of your body. Your saliva can also help to neutralize the acid somewhat. This is also why it’s a good idea to rinse out your mouth and brush your teeth after you vomit.

Fact: Cut yourself? Put sugar on it!

Healers in Africa have been putting crushed sugar cane on wounds for generations. Moses Murandu is a nurse who grew up watching his father use the remedy in Africa and was surprised to find that doctors in England didn’t use it. He started a study to research the idea, testing it on patients with bed sores, leg ulcers and amputations before dressing the wounds. They found that the sugar can reduce pain and kill bacteria that slow healing. Sugar is hygroscopic, meaning it naturally absorbs water which the bacteria need to survive. Sugar is also much cheaper than more modern antibiotics. So the next time you cut yourself, give it a sprinkle of sugar before putting on a band-aid!

Fact: Forget why you walked into a room? There is a reason.

Have you ever walked into a room and forgot why you were there? And after that, have you ever noticed that you can sometimes remember if you go back through the doorway? There is actually a reason for that. Researchers in Notre Dame conducted several experiments on rooms and their effect on memory. Subjects in the study were divided into two groups and given a simple task while traveling the same distance. The only difference is one group went through a doorway and the other didn’t. They found that people who traveled through the doorway were three times more likely to forget their task. Researchers concluded that our mind perceives doorways as “event boundaries” and that decisions you made in that room are “stored” there when you leave. That is also why you can remember if you go back into that room.

Fact: Some woman actually see more colors.

Frustrated because you told your hubby to bring your peach shirt and he grabbed a pink one? It might not be his fault. A study from the University of California shows that up to 50% of women carry four types of color receptors, or iodopsins, rather than the usual three. Normal visioned people will look at a rainbow and see seven different colors, while one with four receptors will see around 10 colors. The reason this happens in woman is that the red and green receptors are located on the X chromosome, while the blue is on the Y. The red and green receptors can be slightly shifted allowing for a greater range of color vision. There are also a small number of women who will have both kinds of red and green, resulting in 5 color receptors. This is also why color blindness is much more common in men than women.

Fact: Eating your boogers may been good for you!

Your nasal mucus (booger) is designed to filter out airborne contaminants and so eating it has long thought to be bad for you, but recent study shows that it may actually help to boast your immune system by introducing those contaminants in small amounts, training your body to recognize and fight against them. But don’t worry, you don’t have to start picking your nose. You have most likely already eaten your boogers, even if you are unaware of it. Mucus accumulated in your nasal passages is often directed backwards and down your throat by the motion of your cilia (hair like structures on your cells used to move things). Yum…

Fact: You probably only breath through one nostril at a time.

This happens in about 85% of people. The truly interesting thing about that is in those people the body with automatically switch between nostrils every four hours or so, although it can vary based on body position, illness or just from person to person. This is accomplished through erectile tissue in your nose similar to that in a penis or clitoris. The erectile tissue will slowly swell up in one nostril, eventually blocking most of it while the tissue in the other one will shrink, allowing for more air flow. It has been found that which side you are breathing from can have an effect on your body. If you are breathing from the right side, for example, your blood glucose levels will rise and you will use much more oxygen. Also, breathing through the right will cause higher activity in the left side of your brain and vise versa. This could be useful in stimulating your right (creative) side or your left (logical) side as needed.

Fact: Every pound of fat gained causes your body to make 7 new miles of blood vessels.

Knowing this, it’s easy to see why obesity and heart disease often go together. Most of the new blood vessels are tiny capillaries, but also include small veins and arteries. This means if you are “only” 10 pounds overweight your heart has to pump blood through an extra 70 miles of blood vessels. The good news is that this also works in reverse. If you lose a pound of fat, your body will break down and reabsorb the no longer needed blood vessels. This is encouraging to dieters, as one pound does not seem like a lot to lose, but even that little bit of difference will result in a large benefit for your heart!